Ladies Couture Tailoring: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide to Making a Jacket that Fits

In this practical guide, Michelle Pye demystifies the process of making a handmade jacket. As an experienced bespoke tailor and teacher, she explains each step of the process from making a toile for fitting, cutting out, inserting the pockets, the application of the sleeves and collar, through to hand finishing and pressing the jacket. Much emphasis is placed on the preparation stage and then the alteration steps to ensure you get a fantastic fit. As well as explaining tailoring terms, Ladies Couture Tailoring warns of common mistakes and describes the techniques of the trade – such as using a clapper to absorb steam or shrinking out fullness to make the sleeve easier to put in – so you can enjoy making your jacket as much as wearing it. It is a rare opportunity to learn from an experienced tailor keen to share her skills and advise you throughout with her personal tips.

Michelle Pye was first introduced to sewing by her mother, an enthusiastic amateur dressmaker, and was then encouraged by a passionate sewing teacher at school. She started her professional sewing career at a bespoke tailoring workshop in Leicester before winning two prizes for her tailoring from the London College of Fashion. She went on to set up her own business making bespoke garments for personal clients, specializing in making wedding dresses and suits. With this solid experience behind her, Michelle set up her own sewing school, with courses covering all aspects of making clothes. She is the owner of the English Couture Company, which supplies dressmakers all over the world with hard-to-find materials and equipment.